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A retired Catholic priest, who sexually abused a teenage girl under his care at a West Australian home for Aboriginal children removed from their families more than 50 years ago, has avoided an immediate prison term.

Allan John Mithen was aged 26 when he abused the 15-year-old girl at the Wandering Mission in 1965, telling her she had to confess her sins to another priest who then told her she would “burn in hell”.

Mithen, now aged 80, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and was sentenced in the WA District Court on Tuesday to 13 months in prison, wholly suspended for 15 months.

Judge Laurie Levy said the victim, who was taken from her family aged four, was particularly vulnerable.

“Rather than protecting her, those involved in running the mission subjected her to physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse,” he said.

“She was refused an education to a large degree and put to work at a very young age.”

Mithen first abused the girl after a sex education class, then assaulted her again about six months later.

Judge Levy said the sexual acts confused and sickened the girl, and in her victim impact statement she said Mithen stole her innocence.

“She speaks of suffering from sadness, depression, fear and a sense of worthlessness - none of that was her making,” he said.

“Unsurprisingly, this caused her to suffer from guilt and shame, that she describes to have been unbearable.

“One can only imagine the intense turmoil that she went through.

“She was being offended against by you in a vile manner, purely for your sexual gratification in circumstances where it was your role to spiritually guide her and protect her.”

But Judge Levy also took into consideration Mithen’s advanced age, ill health and remorse.

The court heard Mithen previously apologised to the victim and gave her about $4000.

Judge Levy acknowledged Mithen had made significant contributions to the Catholic and indigenous communities, including domestic abuse in Redfern in NSW.